Welcome to the Sydney Meetings Travel Newsletter
I am an independent travel manager, a full service travel agent, offering you expert and professional travel consulting. With over 4.5 decades in the travel and tourism industry, I have amassed a vast amount of knowledge, contacts and first hand experience. I have been fortunate to have travelled and cruised extensively to many of the world’s leading destinations and have cruised on over 25 local and international cruises.
An extensive travel knowledge and access to great product and services combining good old fashioned value & service. Whether by air, sea or land, around Australia, South Pacific and everywhere, we have you covered!! Access to competitive air fares, accommodation, land and cruises tariffs, rental car, travel insurance. Primarily leisure travel however your corporate travel requirements too!!
Vaccinate today for the safety of your family and for travel domestically and international
State of the nation:
Well there is never a dull moment in the travel scene! However I can’t say it isn’t challenging. Right now opening up of Fortress Australia still seems a way off.
Even with 70%+ vaccination it may be that the Federal and State governments find it too hard, protecting Aussies who do not travel!!. Listening to the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) who advise Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council (AHMAC) and both are totally risk adverse and so will continue with not opening up any time soon!!
Some international airlines have signaled that they may leave Australia for the short term. Getting them back will not be as easy as it might seem.
Inbound arrival caps need to be reviewed and increased and a date for opening up our international borders is set before they change their operations and deploy aircraft where they can make some money. Did you know that Sydney accounted for over 50%+ of international arrivals (pre Covid). Maybe NSW has to go it alone and increase arrival caps !!
Around the world ocean cruising has resumed with most major cruise lines operating under strict covid protocols. (Prior to Covid Australia was # 3 in the world for ocean cruising). Only limited Australian domestic cruising has resumed with small ship operators conducting Barrier Reef, Kimberley, Tasmania and South Australian cruises. It is looking more than likely that full domestic cruising, including South Pacific and New Zealand will recommence in early 2022.
New covid cruising conditions
Cruise lines are advertising cruise packages in many destinations for 2022 and 2023, with excellent priced packages. Importantly deposit and cancellation policies are focused on offering cruise passengers with liberal opt in opt out conditions.
Your full service travel agent
I am a professional travel manager as a full service (mobile) travel agent providing a full range of travel services, personal service, no fees and no fuss travel advice, itinerary design and bookings, an experienced and passionate travel advisor offering leisure holiday packages for couples and families, specialist ocean, expedition and river cruise, air travel bookings and ticketing, rental car and motor home, rail travel, hotels and resorts, motor coach & 4WD tours and travel insurance.
Travel Australia and the World and everywhere!! Domestic, New Zealand, South Pacific and New Hebrides, Fiji, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, S.E and North Asia, United Kingdom, Europe and Eastern Europe, Canada and United States, Caribbean, Mediterranean, South America – Argentina, Brazil, Portugal, Peru, Galapagos Islands, Scandinavia, Norway, Iceland.
World of Cruising
I specialise in cruising, having sailed on over 25 domestic and international cruises and know cruising.
Post Covid cruising will look and feel a lot different. Cruise lines have been developing new cruising protocols. New covid cruising conditions
Contact me for your next cruising holiday.
Cruising is the perfect holiday..for the young, young at heart and you choose, how much you want to do or as little as you desire. Whether you’re looking for adventure, a relaxing holiday or a bit of both, there is something for all tastes and ages. Cruising is as much about the “ship” as it is the destination.
Australian, South Pacific and New Zealand cruise season is September to April. P&O and Carnival Australia offer short 2, 3 and 4 night cruises during our Autumn and Winer. P&O have regular cruise sales.
One of the greatest aspects of cruising is there’s something for everyone. Cruises offer great value for your dollar and an incredibly diverse range of amenities and activities. On board, wide range of activities and entertainment including world class shows, experience exceptional service and a variety of dining options.
Family Cruises: Carnival Australia, P & O Australia, Royal Caribbean International, MSC.
Adult: Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Princess Cruises, MSC
Luxury Small ship: Azamara, Viking Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn, Silversea Cruises.
Expedition: Aurora, Coral Expeditions, APT/Lindblad, Silversea and Pontant
Cruise company of the month; Viking Cruises offers cruising for guests over 18yrs, no casinos, no art auctions, small yet wonderfully spacious ships under 1000 passengers, risk-free guarantee, inclusive value, industry leading health & safety, Book now, pay later, great world itineraries including combination ocean cruises and river cruises and all expedition cruises. Viking are offering great packages in 2022 and 2023.
Australian Cruise Line of the month; Coral Expeditions is a 35-year-old Australian pioneering expedition cruise company. We operate and manage a fleet of four small expedition ships taking guests to some of the most beautiful, yet undiscovered, regions of Australia, Asia-Pacific, South-Pacific and Indian Ocean islands. Intimate and comfortable, unique itineraries, relaxed environment on board, curated Shore excursions, high levels of care, ease of access, no queues, no waiting, unique Aussie heritage. Cruise packages available 2021, 2022 and 2023, sail from Darwin to Broome or vice versa, cruise around Tasmania, sail the Great Barrier Reef.
Lord Howe Island Packages
Visit Lord Howe Island a little piece of Paradise, immerse your self in Lord Howe’s spectacular World Heritage-listed natural surroundings. Experience great day hikes. Located southern most coral reef, amazing snorkeling, hand-feed the fish at Ned’s Beach and wander along white-sanded beaches. Lord Howe welcomes just 500 visitors at any one time, this island paradise is a quick two-hour flight from Australia’s east coast. Now is the perfect time to visit.
Lord Howe Island Leanda Lei Apartments Packages – available in September, October, November and December, January and February
Additional accommodation options available from mid 2022
Book and pay for your package and receive a pack Lord Howe Island Brewing Company. value $50.00 – One pack person
The most popular time to visit Lord Howe is between September and May, however, even in the winter months (June, July and August), the days can be sunny and warm. Winter on Lord Howe Island showcases an array of unique activities that highlight the wildlife and biodiversity of the World Heritage listed Island.
Kimberley Coast
The Kimberley is Western Australia’s sparsely settled northern region. It’s known for its wilderness which are defined by rugged ranges, dramatic gorges, semi-arid savanna and a largely isolated coastline. The mostly unsealed Gibb River Road runs 660km through the region’s heart, passing by Windjana Gorge National Park, which has towering limestone cliffs and pools where freshwater crocodiles gather. Broome is also the gateway to the Kimberley, so whilst in Broome, allow some time for exploration of the wider Kimberley region.
There are few sights more spellbinding than the Buccaneer Archipelago’, The extremes of Mother Nature are revealed in absolute clarity at the Horizontal Falls, the 360-million-year-old Bungle Bungle Range in World Heritage Purnululu National Park. The Kimberley’s boab trees, El Questro Wilderness Park, the Kimberley is home to some of Australia’s most spectacular rock art, believed to be the oldest in the world, located a the tip of the Dampier Peninsula, north of Broome, is Cape Leveque, Doubtful Bay, Mitchell Falls and Vansittart Bay here, are ochre cliffs, white beaches and highlighter blue ocean.
The iconic Kimberley region is one of the most popular domestic destinations in 2021 and promises to be also in 2022 and 2023. There are a wild variety of Kimberley cruises, land tours and expeditions to the spectacular Kimberley and North West Western Australia. I have selected a few of our popular packages.
10 Nights Ancient Lands of The Kimberley Darwin – Broome – Crooked Compass
13 Day Kimberley Explorer 4WD Broome to Broome – Kimberley Wild
10 Nights Ancient Lands of The Kimberley Darwin – Broome – Coral Cruises.
Murray River – Murray Princess, Adelaide & Kangaroo Island
Enjoy the wonders of the Murray River on board Murray Princess, visit Kangaroo Island and Adelaide sightseeing and Barossa Valley.
The all-inclusive package includes 3 nights in Adelaide, 4 nights on the Murray Princess on the Murray River and 1 night on Kangaroo Island.
Fares are inclusive of return economy Airfares and accommodation and sightseeing.
Option to include the picturesque Flinders Rangers, packages available from 3 nights and 7, 9 and 13 combination packages with Murray River and Kangaroo Island
Horizons Cruise and Travel
Mobile: 0418 289399
